Last Saturday of the Year 2007!

We had Lee's sister Sheila and Scott and Blake and Cole along with Scott's parents from Colorado over for spaghetti dinner! It was a fun evening while G played with her cousins and was quite disappointed they had to leave. The only thing better wuld have been to have Papa and Nana come also--they were missed!!! Gretchen got a Dora suitcase with wheels and a princess tiara, purse and puzzle. When I put her to bed she repeated I play with Blake and Cole and they go home. Earlier that day daddy took G to the library and park----she met a friend from Baby Boogie. All she could talk about was the park. Mommy cleaned the house and got ready for dinner. Love my baby girl---but oh it was so nice!!

Christmas Memories 2007!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

More Christmas 2007

PLAYING WITH MY NEW CRIB AND TRIKE!!!

Christmas Morning!!

These photos are the first time we all opened gifts--she kind of got stuck on opening and playing! She loved the Dora clothes hamper from Uncle Jeff and Aunt Janeen and cousins! She opened some more gifts inside the hamper. She liked the massager she picked out for daddy! The backpack had a sleeping bag and water bottle and flashlight all inside from dad and mom.

Christmas Eve at the Cole's

We arrived home from the cabin about 2 pm! I put Gretchie down for a nap---the exausted little angel was getting very cranky! Lee unloaded the car and got the mail and left to go shopping about 2:30 pm. My parents came about 3 ish from Spokane. Gretchen did fall asleep ten minutes before they came---but woke up after they had been here five minutes!! UGH!She was so cute and so exited Amma and Papa were here!! My opinion its exausting for the mommy toooo to get an excited two year old to sleep! She played puzzles with Amma and watched Heffalump with Papa. (notice this s her favorite movie) Daddy came home about 5:30 pm---we had lots of appetizers and the best part was the shrimp and cocktail sauce! "G" went to bed and asleep by 8:15 pm-whew!! I was so excited--Daddy cut the plastic bands off her new pink and purple trike! It was then placed under the tree. I called Uncle Scott and Aunt Sheila to tell them about the mountain pass (they were going up to the cabin Tues to Thurs). I hear MOMMY!!! OH NO --she was awake--9;15 pm--only slept one hour--and was not going back to bed--NO WAY-she had company to entertain ----so I took her on a ride to get her to sleep at 9:50 pm--as she was hugging daddy in the kitchen while he was filling the bottle again----I hear from her sweet little lips----LOOK I SEE A BIKE UNDER MY TREE!!! My heart sunk--as daddy whisked her into my arms and a blanket was quicky put on her head to get to the car! Forty minute ride and she finally drifted off---I decided to go get an address for my last Christmas Card and I hear LOOK AMMA PRETTY LIGHTS!!! Then the talking started-----I was tired but did have to smile! Home we went and again back in bed----sleep finally came by midnight!







HIDE AND SEEK!!

Wallowa Lake Cabin ---Christmas 2007

We spent Saturday 22nd to Monday December 24th at a cute cabin up in the mountains with NANA and PAPA COLE!! Gretchen had a blast ! It took us 5 hours total to get from our house to the cabin (with snow conditions ) which on the way home took us 3 and half! Gretchen slept an hour on the way up the mountain--we did put chains on and had to drive 35 mph ---Gretchen entertained herself and was singing all the Christmas songs she had learned and then started yelling "TIGGER WHERE ARE YOU" (this is a scene in the snow on the Tigger video) We were laughing so hard---that is pretty addicted to you video when you start acting like Tigger and Pooh!! Praise the Lord we made it safe to the cabin and it was beautiful with all the snow!! At points I was squeezing "puppy" so hard--good thing "G" did not know! She had bear! Then asked for puppy half way up the hill--so mommy traded her! Ha!! The next morning mommy and Gretchie went out in the snow to build a snowman--the snow was powdery! BUMMER!! Mommy was more upset than "G" so we went on a winter walk through the snow!! Daddy forgot his boots! Gretchen took a nap and then watched Heffalump with Papa. We ate dinner and opened gifts---We emptied a big plastic yellow tub and filled it with bubble bath and let her go swimming! It was more like playing --we pretended int was a boat! She did not want to get out---- We came home right after breakfast on Monday morning and started the trip with chains as it was snowing all morning---We soon took them off after we hit bare pavement and blue skies!!! The mountain pass was snowing and had an acculumation of 88 inches at the top!! We did make it without chains and kept driving one mile at a time! Daddy is a great driver!! Gretchen did not sleep all the way home. As we came out of the mountains there was NO SNOW even on the sideof the highway!!! Merry Christmas !!

Mommy thoughts....

It is soooo late and I should be in bed!!! (It is 1:15 am) I need to relax and have some computer time! Daddy just went to bed--you went to bed soooo good tonight. I think we are ready for our LONG weekend of Christmas celebration!! We are heading to Wallowa Lake in the mountains in the morning with Nana and Papa Cole for two days and then Amma and Papa are coming Christmas Eve and stay until Wed or later if we can talk them into it!!! The last three days have been packed full of errands and last minute gifts and grocery shopping today twice----I did stop the busyness and take you to storytime today which you loved making your "CRAFT" with the favorite part the GLUE STICK!!! It was a cute paper penguin which you showed to a couple people--I asked you what the name of your penguin was and you told me BABY!! Oh mommy loves your penguin and this one might be a real keeper!! These are the moments you can't forget and all the hussle and bussle of packing for two days and wrapping gifts is so worth the smile on your little face!!!! sniff sniff --ok what a long day--I need to wrap this up due to another fun filled day tomorrow!! Yesterday we went to TriCities shopping with daddy--we were done shopping but just went along with dad. It was a very fun day and I will write more later---we actually were gone from 10 am to 7:30 pm!! G was awesome---we go to bed at night and relaugh about her cute personality!!! Merry Christmas!
THANK-YOU CHERILYN FOR MAKING OUR SPECIAL HEADING FOR THIS WEBSITE!!! WE WERE SO EXCITED TO HAVE AN ADDED TOUCH!!!

ORNAMENTS & PLAYTIME

I was redecorating the bottom half of the tree this morning----with the ornaments Gretchen plays with. I could not find the wooden rocking horse anywhere----I finally found it stuck in the side of my antique school desk--with the nose stuck in----Haha This late afternoon Gretchie was playing with two balloons when I see her decorate the tree with her two balloons! Now that is quite the ornament!! Here are a couple photos of Gretchen playing with her bear on her bike and then playing with play dough and reading to her dolls! She also was using the popcorn tins with her ball as a drum!!!

Gretchen is talking sooooo good! Tuesday morning she woke up COMPLETELY DRY from bedtime!!! I was shocked!! All day she went potty and earned 4 stickas before 4 pm!! Then I hear OH NO I HAD AN ACCIDENT!!! She has a book with that word in it--I had her repeat what she had said---IT was very clear!!

My screen saver has hundreds of random photos---Gretchen always sees her baby photos and replies --OH G is a baby and ohhhh sooo cute!!! Look mommy baby G!!! A picture of Uncle Sid came up and she says MY UNCLE JEFF!! She hasn't seen either uncle in awhile so to even put uncle in there was super. A picture of PARIS from the Effiel Tower came up she exclaims LOOK MOMMY GUATEMALA!!! Well not quite...........but I was suprised she knew a city was Guatemala! Someday Gretchie you can visit again!!!

Tuesday night bedtime was crazy------First of all G was wired on something and she had not had any sugar. She laid there and tossed and turned for 2 hours!! She was being very naughty throwing her two blankets two pillows and bear and puppy on to the floor!! She is yelling Mommy wake up wake up--(I was ignoring her) Then she yells I drop blankie I drop pillow OH NO I drop puppy! She then yells Mommy lease clean up!!! She got in trouble and I said you are being vry naughty girl--She replied "I know mommy sorry"---Daddy read her book and then back down! She laid there another 40 minutes before falling asleep!! In bed at 8:04 pm and asleep at 11:20 pm!! There went my night to wrap more gifts!

Library--Oh she hada BLAST at Boogie today!! She played basketball with balls--her and a threeyear old little boy were talking and laughing!!We then went UPSTAIRS and BUY BOOKS---3 guesses what we checked out Heffalump movie---her face was priceless when I handed her the movie from the shelf!! The little smartie knows where the shelf is and the stool to reach the movies!!! We also got Pooh's Christmas video and Muppets Christmas and 6 books!!! Gretchen marched up to the counter handed the man her video even said thank-you went over to a mom in our class and started talking away about her movie--I watch Heffalump after nap and I eat snack! I was kinda suprised she talked to someone randomly--usually takes awhile to warm up to others---she then took her movie to the baby in the stroller and showed him and she told the baby she would share the movie ----she was showing the baby Piglet, Pooh, Roo, Mama, owl, Rabbit----WOW--one movie and she was excited!! We did watch it 3 times after nap to bedtime---She wanted daddy to watch it!

looking back...................

HERE ARE ALL THE PHOTOS WE RECEIVED EVERY MONTH WE WERE WAITING FOR GRETCHEN TO COME HOME~~~

COLE'S CHRISTMAS CARD 2007

Candyland Meow??

This morning .........Gretchen was playing with the candyland game in the front room as I was cleaning the kitchen. All of a sudden she has her arms full of cards and "candy people" and sets them all on the kitchen floor right in front of Tashja (cat). PLAY ME MEOW! HERE I SHARE PEOPLE. (hands her the red man) STOP COME BACK MEOW! She was also offered part of the cookie "G" was eating! Right before nap............Tashja was just sitting there minding her own p's and q's when Gretchie went up and flung her blankie at the cat and yelled stop! I disciplined her for hurting the cat for no reason---other than being awake since 5:30 am and very tired! Gretchen looks at me as she knew what she did was wrong and then goes over taps the cat on the head and says I am sorry Meow! During naptime the cat craved attention from me--(wouldn't you if you had a two year old bugging you all morning) So when "G"woke up--the cat was lying on the recliner --Gretchie goes over and talks to her and says do you want to snuggle? All afternoon, giving the cat toys and kisses and tellig the cat to WAKE UP! If I was sleeping I would have found a different place. G--feeds the cat every night--but then gets down into her face and watches every swallow! Gee whiz.........

More Memories!!!

(A) Gretchen loves this wooden rocking horse ornament! She takes it off and on the tree and plays with it daily. I caught her adding stryafoam pieces around the horse on top of the branch--she thought she was decorating tooo!!!

(B) One night as Gretchie was saying goodnight to daddy and climbing upstairs with both blankies and puppy --she turns around and heads back down a couple stairs and says to the manger scence --Goodnight camel --goodnight sheep---goodnight Mary ----goodnight Joesph--etc. and sets each piece down to go to sleep! I see her holding baby Jesus at times rocking him in her arms---MY JESUS --she says.

(C) We decided to go to Pizza Hut for dinner---As G and I were waiting in the van I said "We are going to dinner are you going to be a good girl."she says "Let's go to McDonalds Daddy!!" We started to laugh and she says "OH MY GOSH" and laughs at herself!!! It was cute---

(D) Naptime ---when she wakes up she always starts talking kinda nonsense and never makes any sense! I hear a sound she said one day when I went to get her up--I asked her what she thought the sound was "It is a bike." (it was a motor bike--but I have no idea how she knew that)

(E) The last two nights putting G down for bed has been a long process-she has taken longer naps--so she tosses and turns--well the cat has not helped at all and cried and meowed her head off and has come in Gretchen's room with her bell on the collar---(nothing gets past Gretchen) So G sits up and says I hear MEOW!! One of these moments I say OH NO!!! Gretchie sits straight up and says WHAT HAPPENED MOMMY? (so matter of factly) I say oh the cat is naughty and I need to take Meow down to daddy. So tonight she says Meow is naughty -yes she is! The cat was nowhere in sight!!! Daddy watch Meow??

(F) She remembered when we went to the post office Friday there was a park next to it- Go to park mommy---no its to cold! Oh ok thanks!!! (so agreeable--this time)

(G) Lee and I were having a discussion and so I walked in to finish the story I was telling him and stood next to him by the stove---Gretchen was playing and all of a sudden comes in and says STOP TALKING---we actually did stop and stared at her (SHOCKED a two year old said that)She got in trouble for talking to us like that and then I said Go play with your doll---she says OH OK THANKS--trots off and we finished our discussion!

(H) When G hurts herself she says Mommy please kiss!! Tooo cute!!

(I) One night she wanted to put her pull up on all BYSELF--she had both legs in one hole of the pullup and then put the plastic pants on over the pull up and with both legs again in one hole! Tooooo funny--I did not take a picture--but she was very intent on what she was doing!

(J) I smashed my finger between some platters I had in a cupboard and yelled OUCH!! She came over looked at me sitting on the kitchen floor with my finger in my mouth! She so gently pats my back and says its ok its ok mommy!!! (so sweet) Leans down to kiss my finger!

(K) Gretchen is very possesive of MY TV!! We explain its everyone's tv and the family watches it together. She is always handing Lee the remotes and saying here daddy. Another funny thing is when the words on the bottom of the screen flash on--she does not like it at all and trys to pick them off the corner of the screen. HA AH!!

(L) Gretchen says her FAVORITE MOVIE IS NEMO!! But at the moment TIGGER is ranked pretty high on the list!!!

(M) She is a very good doll mom and is always rocking them and feeding the dolls. She holds them and goes back and forth its ok its ok!!!

(N) Gretchie drops her bottle or blanki out of bed on purpose---to get attention and not go to bed! She gets mad when I totally ignore her--tonight she started th game again I drop ba ba (bottle) oh no mommy drop ba ba-- I can't reach it----silent to see if I come in--- I drop ba ba--its too high! (that was new to the game) hehehehe

(O) G has two blankets --one pink one purple!! She calls her favorite one the pink Old Navy one with a bunny on it--her purple blankie!! Funny because when you ask her what color anything is she always says pink!! I tried to ask her what color her purple blanket was and have not got an answer yet?? hA She did say her favorite color was orange today---she lost her pink blankie in the covers tonight and starts looking for "my purple blankie" "my purple blankie" OH yeah I found it .....laid down and was asleep within minutes!!! THAT CHILD OF MINE IS HILARIOUS!

YIPEEE!!

WE WENT POTTY IN THE BIG TOLIET AT PIZZA HUT!!!
ALL BYSELF!! She was jumping up and down and clapping in the stall!! She was so excited---I think mommy was too! After going in every public restroom in each store this week and Dennys yesterday for breakfast --I think just to explore and check it out and then to wash our hands with the colored soap!! I could write a blog on each restroom and if it has music or paper liners, what kind of paper towels and color of soap etc. (I will spare you the details) We then went to the dollar store and "G" got a Mickey Mouse coloring book!!! Of course we needed 2 new packs of TIGGER stickas!!! We got home and she got three more stickas before she finally decided it was time to go to sleep. Sunday nap she earned three more stickas---until she finally crashed with tiredness---great job "G"!!!

Miss Cleanup Queen!

Look I rearranged all the bottles in the refrigerator and took them out of the door and lined them up neatly on the shelves so mom and dad can see!! I even faced all the labels so I can read them later!!!
Wow-there are so many bottles in the door !!
I did not have room for the shredded lettuce so I will put it back in the door of the refrig.
The door after Miss Clean up cleared it out!
Want some butter--one stick for everyone in the family!!!